Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is one of the most productive receivers in the league over the last few seasons. He is on the verge of doing something no other Seahawks receiver has done since Steve Largent — reach 1,000 yards three straight seasons.

But Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald made a huge impression on him.

“Once I got to speak to him, watch him, it just changed my perspective on the game of football,” he told Seattle reporters this week. “Before, I was just getting by on my athleticism, but talking to Larry and some other guys across the league, they really taught me the chess match that’s within the game of football.”

He recognized the athletic tools and gifts Fitzgerald has, but noted how “cerebral” Fitz is.

“He has this huge, I don’t even know what to call it, but he just has this knowledge of defensive coordinators, defensive players that it’s just impeccable,” he said.

“I think, personally, Larry is probably the best body language and mannerism manipulator at the receiver position,” Baldwin continued. “He does an excellent job of just not giving anything away and also telling people that he’s going one way when he’s actually going the other so it’s incredible to watch. It’s really artwork on the football field to me.”